Advice regarding gcse / alevels :(

[Indoorvoicesbluey]

So my dd15 has just done her mock GCSEs and based on her predicted grades she’s 4 points too low for A levels :(.

we don’t know what to do, she needs to apply in January but obviously wouldn’t get in based on her predicted grades. I’v emailed a few private tutors to help mainly with science and German.

it’s so stressful in our house atm because she’s really worrying she won’t be able to do her Alevels which she needs for the future course she wants to do.

wwyd?

What did she get in her mocks?

What sixth form options do you have near to you?

What A-level subjects does she want to study?

My daughter hasn't done a levels and is still on course for her chosen degree next September.
My other daughter only did two a levels and one btec and is on her degree now.

They aren't the only route depending on what she wants to do

I think it’s important to make sure there is no pressure. I remember the stress and anxiety over GCSE’s and A Levels and in reality they have been pretty useless to me, as was the degree they led to. I got a little part time job while doing my a levels and ended up building my career from there and have done pretty well for myself. If there is something she wants ti do specifically that she needs the grades to get into then by all means support where you can, tutors etc as you mention. But I’d really just make sure she knows that as long as she is doing her best then you will be proud of her, and exam results are not always the bee all and end all and the marker for your future career that you get led to believe they are!

Different places offering A Levels will have differing entry requirements, so what isn't enough grade wise at one place, may be acceptable somewhere else.

And as someone else has said, A Levels aren't the only route to university, although they are still seen as the gold standard in a lot of circles.

She might be better suited to btecs or t levels if she is struggling with GCSE. Several of DC's friends switched as they were struggling when they started a levels even though they did fine at GCSE

Firstly, applications to sixth form (except maybe in some very competitive ones) are not decided based on predicted grades.

She can apply to the post-16 destination(s) she wants to consider and then when she gets her grades she will be accepted or not, so don't worry about PGs. At this stage she will still get offers.

The thing to do is to consider other options as well as wherever you are initially looking. Not all post-16 destinations look at overall points. My DCs' sixth form required 4+ in Eng and maths and a 6+ in chosen subjects but no overall total AFAIK. Just as an example.

YY what subjects does she want to take at A level? Are sciences and German crucial (ie does she want to do those subjects)? If not it might be better to focus on the subjects she does wan to take.

For German get her to start watching German Netflix series in her downtime, in German but with English subtitles- the Enpress is brilliant. She'll need to be proactively listening for vocab and grammar structures that she's learned or can use more widely and should rewind and re listen regularly so she gets the pronunciation and remembers the language but if she gets into the habit she'll a) love it and b) improve no end!

What board is she doing for German? Is she doing foundation or higher? MFL is my subject and I am happy to pm you done exam passing tips if that might help

Why are her grades low? Be honest with yourself - is she just not very academic? Is her exam technique poor? Did she revise? Does she pay attention and work at school? Does she understand the subject material? Did she panic?
Identifying the root means you can target your support.
My DS did very badly in his mocks, it was a combination of poor revision and no exam technique, he actually knew and understood the subjects quite well. So we worked on that and he ended up with all 5s and 6s in his GCSEs which we were over the moon with and were above what he was predicted.

What does she want to do at A level? What grades does she need.
Can you tutor yourself?
my DS1 is in an apparently ‘good’ school but the teaching isn’t great for most of the subjects.
I used past papers and marked them using their making scheme..

Would she find the BBC Bitesize pages helpful?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8j2tfr

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zrkw2hv

What is she hoping to study at University and which A Levels would she like to apply to do?

@Indoorvoicesbluey It's hard to comment as I don't understand "she's 4 points too low for a-levels".

Let's say the minimum grade for A-levels is 5 7s. Do you mean she's getting 3s in all her GCSE supbject (which would be failing them)? Do you mean she's getting a 7 and 4 6s? Which are good passes (equivalent of A and B).

They are totally different situations.

Her actual results are what really matters. She can reapply once she has worked harder and passed her GCSEs. She needs to be doing 2hrs a day to do well.

GCSE Science - BBC Bitesize

Is she getting 1s Op?

Look at entry requirements for other local 6th forms. They do vary.

Speak to her teachers about what they think - if she pulls her finger out can she up her grades, or would she be more suited to a different pathway?

Entry requirements are there for a reason, other pathways may be better for her, more enjoyable and more successful! It’s hard though if she had her heart set on one direction.

Stressful year for her!